Packers Signing of Former Pro Bowler Kevin Zeitler is Too Little Too Late

The Packers signed Kevin Zeitler on Wednesday, the fourth veteran o-lineman they've added in less than two weeks.

by Mike Santa Barbara

Sep 30, 2026

The Packers signed Kevin Zeitler on Wednesday, the fourth veteran o-lineman they've added in less than two weeks.

Junfu Han-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Green Bay Packers’ offensive line struggles this season are well documented. On Wednesday, they signed former Pro Bowl guard Kevin Zeitler, the fourth veteran o-lineman they’ve added in less than two weeks.

Week after week, the Packers o-line has declined and enters Week 4 as arguably the worst unit in the NFL. Bringing in Zeitler is another attempt to stop the bleeding. The same can be said for the recent signings of Cordell Volson, Laken Tomlinson and former first-round pick Mekhi Becton.

More likely than not, the trio will be an improvement for the Packers. However, the likes of Zeitler, Tomlinson, and Becton were all available before the start of the season, and the issues at offensive line aren’t a new development in Green Bay.

Rather than addressing the weakness as soon as possible, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst sat on his hands. Instead of improving a group trusted to protect $220 million quarterback Jordan Love before Week 1, he waited through an entire offseason and nearly three weeks of historically poor line play to do anything about it.

There’s still time to turn things around, but relying on players like Jacob Monk, Donovan Jennings, and Jager Burton instead of adding more proven options will likely cost the Packers.

Before the start of the 2026 season, the Packers had started a season with a 1-2 record 27 times in their history. Over that time, they went on to finish the year with a winning record only 12 times, making the postseason just seven times.

Zeitler Should Bring Consistency to Packers O-Line

In 2025, Zeitler continued to showcase why he’s been one of the more consistent right guards in the league. The veteran played 909 snaps for the Tennessee Titans, allowing just 16 total pressures, four sacks, and two QB hits, earning a 74.5 overall Pro Football Focus grade, ranked 13th of 81 qualified guards.

If he hasn’t lost a step, Zeitler should provide the Packers with the same kind of production. At the very least, he should be a massive improvement from what Green Bay has put on the field over the last three weeks.

A first-round pick in 2012 out of Wisconsin, Zeitler has played 14 seasons in the NFL, starting 213 games for the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Titans. The 36-year-old has started at least 15 games in every season since 2015, making the Pro Bowl in 2023.